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W. L. SMITH.

GAR COUPLING. No. 424,658. Patented Apr. 1. 1890.

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\VILLIAM L. SMITH, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

ATENT OFFICE.

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO IVILLIAM H. H. AYARS, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,658, dated. April1, 1890.

Application filed January 10, 1890.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing atIndianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements incar-couplings of that class known as twin-jam and it has for its objectto provide an improved coupler of this class having an improvedautomatic look.

The novelty resides in the peculiar com binations and the construction,arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafterdescribed, shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of myimproved coupler and lock. Fig. 2 is a top plan with the coupler brokenaway. Fig. 3 is a like view with the parts in a different position. Fig.4 is a detail view of the cap. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the cap I1showing the manner in which it is attached.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates thetimbers at one end of a car, there being a cross-timber a, on which theinner end of the draw-head rests, and a yoke A, in which the forward endis seated, as shown.

Depending from the under side of the car there is a cross-piece orbridge A having a hole a therethrongh for a purpose hereinafter madeapparent.

The draw-head B is of the usual construction, known as the .Iauney type,except as Serial No. 336,569. (No model.)

hereinafter particularly pointed out. It is preferably formed in twolike parts brazed or otherwise suitably held together. The mouth of thedraw-head is formed with a recess 13',

in which the coupling-hook works and is seated when locked.

The coupling-hook C is pivoted in the ears of the drawhead on a verticalpivot in the usual manner. It has an arm C adapted to work in the recessin the mouth of the drawhead, as shown, and to engage and operate thelock, hereinafter described.

The adjacent faces of the two portions of the draw-head are recessed, asshown in Figs.

2 and S, to receive and provide room for the operating parts now to bedescribed. \Vithin the longitudinal central recess in the drawhead isloosely located the bolt D, which has a flat outer head and also a fiatinner head, being recessed upon one side, as shown at b, and the frontwall of the said recess being tapered outward, as shown atb, the rearwall of the said recess being formed with anotch or nose Z1 for apurpose hereinafter made apparent. Seated in a longitudinal recess atthe rear of this bolt is a spiral spring E, abutting at its rear endagainst the rear wall of the recess and at its forward end against therear end of the said bolt.

F is a transverse rod passed loosely through an opening in the two partsof the draw-head vertically and carrying within the chamber in thedraw-head a lever or two oppositelyextending arms G and II, as shown,there being a spiral spring G arranged in a side longitudinal recess andacting upon one of said arms, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. Theother arm works within the recess in the upper face of the bolt. Theupper end of this rod passes through a hole in a detachable cap H whichfits within a hole in the upper fac of the coupler or draw-head and isprovided with apertured lugs, by means of which and suitable screws itis detachably held in place to cover up the parts and yet allow-of its 5ready removal for the purpose of inserting or removing or repairing theparts within the draw-head. The opposite end of this rod passes througha hole in the under side of the draw-head and has secured thereto in anyw suitable manner an operating-lever 1, provided with a suitable handleI and f ulcrumed between its ends between the bifurcations of the forkedarm J, the other or inner end of which passes loosely through theopening a in the bridge A and is there provided with a nut to preventits withdrawal. This rod plays loosely within the said hole to allow ofendwise movement of the draw-head, but yet prevents dropping down of thedraw-head in case of breakage of the other parts, and thus holds thedraw-head to the car.

The operation is'simple and apparent. With the parts 'in the position inwhich they are shown in Fig. 2 the device is set ready for coupling. Asthe coupling-hook of the opposing car engages with the coupling-hook'onthe car to be coupled, it engages the bolt, or, rather, the arm thereofengages the bolt and pushes it inward just sufficiently to release thearm G from the notch or nose in the bolt, when thespring G forces thearm H inward and allows the bolt to move forward by the action of itsspring, and the coupler is held in its recess in the draw-head by sidepressure on the bolt. WVhen it is desired to uncouple, theoperating-lever is turned so as to bring the bolt inward and engage thearm G in the notch of the bolt, when the arm of the coupler is released,and the parts are automatically set ready for coupling.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination, with the car-timbers and abridge beneath the same, of the automatic lock, the lever for operatingthe same, and a rod connected with the said lever and passed looselythrough an opening in the bridge and provided with a nut to preventaccidental displacement thereof, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the draw-head chambered as shown, of thereciprocating bolt therein and the spring-actuated lever within thechamber of the draw-head, as set forth.

3. The combination, with the chambered draw-head and the spring-actuatedbolt therein formed witha recess and anose, of the 'twoarmed leverwithin the chamber of the drawhead with one arm working in the recess inthe bolt, as set forth.

4. The combination, with the chambered draw-head and the spring-actuatedbolt working loosely therein and formed with a recess and nose, asshown, of the two-armed lever within the chamber of the draw-head withone arm working in the recess in thebolt and adapted to engage saidnose, and a spring acting on the other arm, as set forth.

5. The combination, with the chambered draw-head and the spring-actuatedbolt therein formed with a recess and nose, of the twoarmed lever in thechamber of the draw-head with one arm in the recess of the bolt andengaging the nose thereof, a spring acting on the other arm, and anoperating-lever secured to the projecting end of the said lever,substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM L. SMITH. \Vitnesses:

EDWARD T. DICKEY, HARVEY A. GILBERT.

